CCDC Screens Over 1.1 Million Indians For High Blood Pressure

The Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) has successfully screened over 1.1 million individuals for high blood pressure (BP) as part of the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative, launched in 2017. CCDC, the official Indian partner for MMM, contributed to the largest global initiative aimed at promoting regular BP measurement. This campaign, involving over 100 countries, has screened more than 6 million individuals to date.

In India, non-communicable diseases account for nearly 63 per cent of deaths, with 27 per cent attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD). High blood pressure is a primary risk factor for CVDs. Through MMM and other year-round initiatives, CCDC aims to educate and empower the public to manage and prevent this chronic condition.

On World Hypertension Day (May 17), CCDC partnered with IAPEN India to organise health camps and numerous lectures and training sessions for volunteers across cities in NCR, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. The health camps focused on raising awareness and encouraging regular monitoring, while the lecture series educated participants about the risks of hypertension and ways to manage high BP through healthy diet and lifestyle changes. The initiative was supported by 471 volunteers from medical colleges, hospitals, and various institutions across India.

Prof. D. Prabhakaran, Executive Director of CCDC, emphasised the importance of managing high blood pressure to prevent heart attacks and strokes. He noted, “Over seven editions of the MMM campaign, CCDC is proud to have conducted more than 1.1 million screenings nationwide. By reaching individuals across the country, we are committed to promoting heart health and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases in our communities.”

May Measurement Month (MMM), launched by the International Society of Hypertension, encourages people aged 18 and above to regularly check their BP and understand its impact on their health. MMM offers diet and lifestyle advice for those with high BP and helps improve follow-up care. By highlighting data on untreated hypertension, MMM urges governments worldwide to enhance BP screening facilities and reduce the global burden of disease and death caused by elevated BP.